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Posted on Monday, 10.26.09

THE TURNING POINT

New Orleans Saints' comeback victory over Miami Dolphins takes five seconds to ignite

A challenging decision by Dolphins coach Tony Sparano gave the Saints a rallying point after they fell behind by 21 points during the first half.

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marques Colston is tackled just short of the goal line with five seconds remaining in the second quarter by the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009 at Land Shark Stadium in Miami Gardens.

C.M. GUERRERO / STAFF PHOTO

Dolphins vs. Saints | Sun., Oct. 25, 2009
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BY ADAM H. BEASLEY

abeasley@MiamiHerald.com

NFL rules grant offenses 25 seconds from the time a dead ball is spotted to substitute players and snap the ball.

Tony Sparano feared that the Saints could pull off that feat in five ticks of the clock Sunday afternoon.

That calculation led the Dolphins coach to call a timeout late in the first half of the team's 46-34 loss -- and it ultimately helped New Orleans score on a touchdown instead of with a field goal.

That swing sparked a 43-10 New Orleans run over the game's final 30 minutes and five seconds, turning a 21-point lead into a season-derailing, 12-point defeat.

``It was a turning point; they got seven points instead of three,'' Dolphins safety Yeremiah Bell said. ``I don't really know what happened in that situation, but it happened, and it's something that you've got to deal with. It ended up turning out pretty bad for us in the second half.''

Here are the specifics: Trailing 24-3, the Saints had the ball late in the second quarter, and quarterback Drew Brees connected with Marques Colston on an apparent 21-yard touchdown pass with five seconds left.

However, officials reviewed the play and determined Colston was tackled at the 1-yard line.

The Saints had first-and-goal but, without a timeout, had to make a quick determination -- kick a short field goal or go for six points. As soon as the ball was spotted, officials said, they would start the game clock.

As the men in stripes made this explanation, Saints coach Sean Payton made a decision: Take the easy three points. He sent kicker John Carney and the rest of the field goal unit onto the field but kept the offense huddled on the sideline.

That's when Sparano called timeout.

His explanation?

``We thought they were going to make a switch at the very last minute, so we wanted to be in the personnel we could be in,'' Sparano said. ``If they kicked a field goal, we wanted to be in the best personnel. If they went for it, we wanted to be in the best personnel.''

With the unexpected stoppage in play, Payton thought better of his decision and sent the Saints offense, which entered the game ranked first in the NFL, back onto the field.

New Orleans likely had one shot at the end zone and would come away with either a touchdown or no points at all.

Brees went the final three feet himself, leaping over the offensive line and into the end zone.

The tide had shifted. The Saints scored six more times in the second half and remained undefeated.

``It gave them momentum,'' Dolphins defensive tackle Jason Ferguson said. ``There's no doubt about that, and we knew that.

``We knew we had to get them off the field because that's how they get hot. That's what they did. They went out there and made a big play.''

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